Memorandum

Arrangements for Conducting Deferred Divisions under the Order of the House of 7th November

1. On Wednesdays when it is proposed to conduct divisions deferred from a previous day, a paper will be circulated with the Vote Bundle setting out the questions to be decided. That paper will be in the form of a ballot paper, listing the questions in the order in which they were deferred, each with a box for `Aye' and `No' votes printed against it.

2. Between 3.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m., Members may take their ballot papers, marked with their votes and signed, to the No lobby. Copies of the ballot paper will also be made available in the lobby. Division Clerks will be in their places as for a division in the House, and will mark Members as having voted and take their ballot papers. No Member may hand in a ballot paper for another Member, except in circumstances which would allow `nodding through' in a division in the House. At 5.00 p.m., the doors to the No lobby will be locked, and will remain locked for five minutes. Any Members remaining in the lobby have until the doors are unlocked to vote. The Clerk of the House will then arrange for the votes to be counted and the results will be announced by the Speaker at the earliest convenient opportunity.

3. If a division is called in the House during a deferred division, the deferred division will be suspended and the closing time will be extended by the length of the suspension (for example, until 5.10 p.m.). A division in the House after the time for deferred divisions has expired but while the doors are still locked will bring to an end the time for Members to vote.

4. These arrangements will be reviewed during the course of the session.